Unilever Nigeria Plc and UNICEF announced a major milestone in their joint mission to close the youth unemployment gap. Their flagship initiative, The Future-X Unilever Campus Ambassadors Programme (FUCAP), has now reached over 900,000 young Nigerians, equipping them with the digital and entrepreneurial “survival kits” required for the 2026 labor market.
The program serves as a critical localized engine for Generation Unlimited (GenU 9JA), a global partnership that was officially institutionalized under the Office of the Vice President in late 2025.
From Learning to Earning: The FUCAP Model
Managed by Unilever MD Tobi Adeniyi and UNICEF Lagos Chief Celine Lafoucriere, the program uses a “hybrid” approach to solve the skills mismatch:
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Digital Ecosystem: Leveraging UNICEF’s Yoma (Youth Agency Marketplace) and U-Report platforms to provide scalable digital learning to hundreds of thousands.
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On-Campus Ground War: 30 physical career seminars held across 20 universities and polytechnics, led by trained student ambassadors (FUCAs).
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Direct Pathways: Over 85,000 students have received direct mentorship, with selected graduates transitioning into high-value internship roles at Unilever.
“FUCAP bridges the gap between academia and industry by bringing practical, real-world knowledge directly to students,” noted Celine Lafoucriere.
The 2026 Skills Context: A National Emergency
While Nigeria is racing to build AI data centers, current 2026 statistics reveal a stark “silent barrier”:
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The Skills Gap: Recent 2025/2026 surveys show that up to 85% of Nigerian graduates still lack basic digital competence upon graduation.
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The Economic Cost: UNICEF estimates that the digital skills gap costs the Nigerian economy approximately $11 billion annually.
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The Gender Divide: Only 2% of women in the lowest wealth quintiles have internet access, a divide FUCAP is actively working to bridge through targeted recruitment.
Institutional Strength: GenU 9JA in 2026
Under the chairmanship of Vice President Kashim Shettima, GenU 9JA has evolved into a powerhouse of public-private collaboration.
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Reach: Impacting over 11 million youth since 2021.
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2026 Goal: Supporting 2.5 million youth with jobs and training this year alone.
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Institutional Partners: Beyond Unilever, the board now includes heavyweights like Airtel, MTN, Microsoft, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
FUCAP 2026 Dashboard
| Metric | Achievement |
| Total Impacted | 900,000+ Young Nigerians |
| Physical Seminar Reach | 85,000+ Students |
| Institutional Footprint | 20 Universities/Polytechnics |
| Primary Platforms | Yoma, U-Report, FUCAP Campus Networks |
| Sustainability Goal | Aligning with UN SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) |
